Key challenges for economic growth and employment today:

The average unemployment rate in developing regions is 10%; with 1 in 5 young people looking for a job

In the least developed countries, there is a pressing need to boost economic growth rates from their current average of 4.9% to at least 7% (Target 8.1)

Only 1 in 5 people in the world’s least developed countries have access to a bank account or mobile banking, leaving the vast majority of people in these countries locked out of benefitting from economic development

The average citizen in developed regions consumes 35 tons of natural resources per year – this is 3x more than the “recommended” sustainable limit

Top 5 ways increased connectivity and digital solutions can help

Growing GDP

A recent ITU/Broadband Commission study found that a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration alone can lead to rises in GDP of between 0.25 and 1.38 per cent, with the highest positive impacts occurring in developing countries. This report also finds that not increasing broadband to universal coverage worldwide would mean missing an opportunity to raise GDP by 12 per cent in developing regions by 2030.

Access to financial services

Online banking and banking through smart devices will help include millions of additional people in the financial system, providing previously unbanked citizens with the benefits of modern consumer finance.

Access to information

Improved access to digital solutions in general can help, for example, farmers and fishermen in some of the poorest regions of the world get access to real-time price information, enabling them to sell into regional, and even global markets at the best price for them.

Better productivity

Digital technologies can bring productivity gains. According to the World Bank, companies using e-commerce are now, on average, 11 per cent more productive, twice as large and twice as likely to export as those that do not.

Reducing resource consumption

Digital solutions can cut the equivalent of 25 billion barrels of oil in 2030, a reduction of 70 per cent compared to today’s oil consumption. Smart-mobility solutions alone could take 135 million cars off the world’s roads and over 330 trillion liters of water could be saved in 2030 from smart agriculture, smart buildings and smart manufacturing. E-work, moreover, could save 0.4 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The business case

GeSI and Accenture Strategy’s research finds that the digital solutions analyzed could unlock over $9 trillion in economic benefits globally in 2030, saving consumers, businesses and governments around the world over $4.6 trillion while generating $4.5 trillion of new income in industries like agriculture, retail, education, renewable energy and mobility.

Key challenges for innovation and sustainable development today

Only one third of the population of developing countries and just one tenth of the population in least developed countries can get online.

The 900 research & development (R&D) workers per million people in developing countries is 4x less then the recommend amount.

4 ways to improve connectivity and spur innovation and sustainable development

Quick action

GeSI’s research shows that 2.5 billion more people can be connected to the knowledge economy in 2030. But timing matters: broadband coverage needs to increase fast so that the “digital critical mass” required to spur economy-wide innovation is reached as soon as possible. Installed broadband capability needs to be fast as well as reliable.

Investment

The ITU / Broadband Commission estimates that connecting the next 1.5 billion people to the internet requires around $450 billion of investment in total.

More research

We need more researchers and R&D spending dedicated to solving social and environmental challenges.

Use the “white space”

ICT companies have begun to invest in utilizing unused broadcasting frequencies (“white space”) in the wireless spectrum to provide fast internet access without the necessity of traditional broadband infrastructure.

The business case

More connectivity unleashes the economic and environmental potential of smart manufacturing and smart logistics, which could together enable $982 billion of cost savings through better efficiency by 2030. This includes energy savings of 5.3 billion MWh and fuel savings of 267 billion liters. Digitized industry can also save 4 gigatons of CO2e in 2030 – nearly 7 per cent of global emissions. Connecting 2.5 billion people without internet access can deliver $400 billion per year by 2030.

About Sustainable Development Goal 17

Goal 17 – “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” – is an overarching goal, not attributable to one “impact area,” such as improving quality of life.

Key challenges for economic growth and employment today:

The average unemployment rate in developing regions is 10%; with 1 in 5 young people looking for a job

In the least developed countries, there is a pressing need to boost economic growth rates from their current average of 4.9% to at least 7% (Target 8.1)

Only 1 in 5 people in the world’s least developed countries have access to a bank account or mobile banking, leaving the vast majority of people in these countries locked out of benefitting from economic development

The average citizen in developed regions consumes 35 tons of natural resources per year – this is 3x more than the “recommended” sustainable limit

Top 5 ways increased connectivity and digital solutions can help

Growing GDP

A recent ITU/Broadband Commission study found that a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration alone can lead to rises in GDP of between 0.25 and 1.38 per cent, with the highest positive impacts occurring in developing countries. This report also finds that not increasing broadband to universal coverage worldwide would mean missing an opportunity to raise GDP by 12 per cent in developing regions by 2030.

Access to financial services

Online banking and banking through smart devices will help include millions of additional people in the financial system, providing previously unbanked citizens with the benefits of modern consumer finance.

Access to information

Improved access to digital solutions in general can help, for example, farmers and fishermen in some of the poorest regions of the world get access to real-time price information, enabling them to sell into regional, and even global markets at the best price for them.

Better productivity

Digital technologies can bring productivity gains. According to the World Bank, companies using e-commerce are now, on average, 11 per cent more productive, twice as large and twice as likely to export as those that do not.

Reducing resource consumption

Digital solutions can cut the equivalent of 25 billion barrels of oil in 2030, a reduction of 70 per cent compared to today’s oil consumption. Smart-mobility solutions alone could take 135 million cars off the world’s roads and over 330 trillion liters of water could be saved in 2030 from smart agriculture, smart buildings and smart manufacturing. E-work, moreover, could save 0.4 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The business case

GeSI and Accenture Strategy’s research finds that the digital solutions analyzed could unlock over $9 trillion in economic benefits globally in 2030, saving consumers, businesses and governments around the world over $4.6 trillion while generating $4.5 trillion of new income in industries like agriculture, retail, education, renewable energy and mobility.

Key facts about innovation and sustainable development today

Only one third of the population of developing countries and just one tenth of the population in least developed countries can get online.

The 900 research & development (R&D) workers per million people in developing countries is 4x less then the recommend amount.

4 ways to improve connectivity and spur innovation and sustainable development

Quick action

GeSI’s research shows that 2.5 billion more people can be connected to the knowledge economy in 2030. But timing matters: broadband coverage needs to increase fast so that the “digital critical mass” required to spur economy-wide innovation is reached as soon as possible. Installed broadband capability needs to be fast as well as reliable.

Investment

The ITU / Broadband Commission estimates that connecting the next 1.5 billion people to the internet requires around $450 billion of investment in total.

More research

We need more researchers and R&D spending dedicated to solving social and environmental challenges.

Use the “white space”

ICT companies have begun to invest in utilizing unused broadcasting frequencies (“white space”) in the wireless spectrum to provide fast internet access without the necessity of traditional broadband infrastructure.

The business case

More connectivity unleashes the economic and environmental potential of smart manufacturing and smart logistics, which could together enable $982 billion of cost savings through better efficiency by 2030. This includes energy savings of 5.3 billion MWh and fuel savings of 267 billion liters. Digitized industry can also save 4 gigatons of CO2e in 2030 – nearly 7 per cent of global emissions. Connecting 2.5 billion people without internet access can deliver $400 billion per year by 2030.

Most powerful digital solution:

2.5 billion more people can be connected by 2030 – mainly in developing countries. Connectivity paves the way to more participation.

About Sustainable Development Goal 17

Goal 17 – “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” – is an overarching goal, not attributable to one “impact area,” such as improving quality of life.